Water cooler and refrigerating apparatus



Original Filed July 5, 1923 ATTDRNIY lill Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

iJhll'i'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. Haas, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND MACK r'osY, or SAND srRNGs,

OKLAHOMA.

WATER COOLER AND REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application led July 5, 1923, Serial No. 649,551.

This invention relates to water coolers and retrigerating` apparatus.

The prime object is to provide adevice lor thoroughly and rapidly cooling-1' water Afor drinlfring; purposes, the supply of the latter being' under constant pressure trom the city mains, to maintain' the receptacle 'full at all times, no mattei' how tast the cooled water may be drawn therefrom.

Another object is to provide a coolingl device having a water receptacle which is hermetically sealed to prevent. any contamination thereof from the outside, and which may be readily and thoroughly cleansed at any time to maintain the saine in a sanitary condition,

A further object is to provide means i'or connecting the cooler to an ordinary refrigerator or ice box, whereby the` excess of cold air or cooling' medium produced by the ice in the coolerinay be conducted to the interior ot the said retrigerator oriice box to cool the saine ttor the preservation of the contents thereof, without decreasing the ten'iperature ot or lessening,` the effects oi' the ice on the drinkingl water.

i .iinal objectis to provide a neat and attractive water cooler oil' any desired size or capacity for use in homes, otlices, cafes, etc., and oi' any desired shape, either round, square, triaii, ,'tilfi1',` hexagonal or octagonal, and to have any desired number ot' dra w-otl' cocks or faucets, whereby a plurality of drinking' cups may be filled simultaneously with water which has not come into Contact `with the ice, and which has notI been exposed to the atmosphere.

.ln carryingI out the invention, l' provide a w r cooler having an interior chamber tor holding' the ice 'to more thoroughly protectthe same, thus resultingl in economy in the use thereoi", a se vrarate annular chan'iber surrounding the ice receptacle for holding,l the cater, under constant pressure from the mains, and an outer, annular vacuum chaml fr, surrounding the water chamber tor insulating' the water from the outsi'fle atmosphere. 'the entire structure being formed ot' a, gie casting et' aluminum or some other 1am-corrosive and non-rusting` metal, thus eliinii'iatinlr all necessity tor the use oi' bolts., rivets or other ia.stenins$` means or soldering, brazing or welding of joints and producinp,`

Renewed January 25, 1927.

a structure which is practically indestructible.

A full and complete understanding ol theinvention may be obtained from a consideration oit' the 'following detailed description', tak-en in connection with the accom panying drawing forming a part otl this specilication; it beingr understood that while the drawing shows a practical form ot' the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modifi-ed so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawing, in which .similar reference characters designate correspondingl parts throughout the several iigures:

Figure l is a perspective view of a water cooler' constructed in accordance with the present invention, the table, counter, shelil or other supporting means being' omitted;

Figure 2 is a vert-ical, transverse sectional view through the same;

Figur-e 3 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure l is a detail, vertical section of the casting comprising` the ice, water and vacuuin chambers,

ln the drawing therel is illustrated a cooler which may be consid-ered as of a size and capacity and adapted for use in cafes or other public places, the same' being equipped with a plurality of draw-oil' cocks or faucets.

its shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the cooler comprises a hollow, shell-lile casingi in the forni oi' a single casting, preferably of aluminum, and having an outer annular wall l completely surrounding' the saine, an intermediate, annular wall 2 .in spaced relation thereto, and an inner, annular wall 3, likewise in spaced relation to the intermediate wall, the .spaces between the several walls being preferably equal, though not necessarily so.

The walls l, 2 and 8 are joined. together. at their lower ends, by an integral base plate which completely closes the lower ends olf all. three chambers thus provided, the inner chamber 5 which constitutes the ice chainber, being` open at the top, while the other two annular chan'ibers, i. e. the intermediate chamber' 6 and the outer chamber 7, are closed at the top by an integral, annular wall 8, thus he `metically sealing the two 'outer chambers except through certain passageways to be described.

The intermediate annular chamber 6 constitutes the water receptacle, and the outer annular chamber 7 constitutes the insulating chamber for protecting the outer wall 2 of the water chamber from the warming influences of the outside atmosphere, the said chamber 7 having the air withdrawn therefrom, so as to provide a vacuum for the purpose, and which, as is well known, serves to maintain the temperature of the enclosed chamber atan even degree, whether the same be high or low, or for heating or cooling purposes.

ln order to maintain a constant supply of clean, uncontaminated water to the water chamber (i, an integrally formed sleeve 9 is formed in the casting and extendsacross the outer chamber 7, near the top thereof, and communicates at the inner end with the water receptacle 6, the said sleeve being internally threaded for the threaded end of which may be tapped into a supply pipe 1() for the supply of the regular service pipe water.

At equally spaced points around the interior walls of thel inner or ice chamber 5 and in spaced relation to the bottom or base plate d, are a plurality of integarl, inwardly-directed, radially disposed lugs 11, preferably three in number, which serve to support a metallic disc 12 (preferably formed of aluminum, and having a diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the wall 3, so as to provide a dripping space 13 eX- tending entirely around the disc for the water from the ice, which is supported upon the dise 12, to gravitate to the bottom plate. The bottom plate l is dished, as at 11i, so as to cause the drippage to flow to a central opening 15, into which is screwed a drain pipe 16, which may connect the cooler to al drain pan or sewer, as the case may be, the said pipe having an ordinary goose-neck or trap 17 applied thereto or formed therein, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, and which, as is well known, serves to prevent entrance into the cooler of foul air, as in cases where connection is made to a sewer, or of warm air in case a drip pan is used and, in the present instance, the trap 17 further performs the function of preventing the escape of any of the cold air from the ice within the central chamber 5.

ln the illustrated forni of the device, there are. three draw-olf cocks or faucets 18 shown, but it will be `understood that any number, either more or less, may be used in manufacturing the cooler, the same depending upon the use to which the cooler isto be put. For instance, if the cooler is to be intended for domestic use, as in an "ordinary home, only one faucet would sullice, but in larger coolers of various sizes, two, three or more would be necessary, and the height and diameter of the various chambers would be correspond ingly increased to give the necessary cupac cumferential shoulders 2l adapted to receive F and hold a non-corrosive, wire gauze dise 22, which is held against said shoulder by the inner end of the nipple 1Q of the faucet.

The water receptacle is adapted to have its lower portion lilled with a pumtity of charcoal, Tripoli roc-lr or other liltering me dium calculated to free the water passing therethrough of any impurities and to so'tten the same, the said iiltering medium, where entering the several sleeves 20, being prevented from passing through the :faucets by reason of the wire gauze dises as will be understood.

A lid or cover 23, formed of a hollow casting of the same metal as the body mem ber of the cooler, is adapted to clore the up per open end of the ice receptacle 5 and to rest upon the top, annular wall 8. rl`he cover is composed of two sections, the main portion 23 and a stationary portion 2a, which latter is adapted to be screwed or otherwise secured to the top annular wall 8 and having hinge members or eyes for coaction with similar eyes formed on the main portion ot the cover to form a hinge 25 for permitting the main cover to be swung upwardly for the purpose of supplying the inner chamber 5 with cracked or broken ice, as illustrated.

The cover 23 is provided with a central depressed7 hollow portion 26 fitting into the upper end of the chamber 5 to form a tight closure therefor, and the two memlgicrsiof the cover have their marginal peripheries' to conform to the. shape of the body member. but of greater diameter than the same, and they are hollow and adapted to be evacuated of their air contents to form a vacuum for he same purpose as the chamber 7 ot' the body member.

To enhance the appearance of the cooler, and to provide an enlarged arca within the cover, the top plate thereof formed with an upstanding enlargement or dome 2T formed integrally therewith and coimuuuieating with the same, and at the side oppo site the hinge 25, a lifting handle 28 is sa cured for the purpose of raising the cover.

In order to increase the insulating qualities of the vacuum within `the outer,- empty chamber T, an asbestos covering 29 is ap THU lll

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plied to the outer face of the outer cylinder or wall 1, and a thin sheet 30 of aluminum or nickel-plated metal is placed over the same, the said covering serving to hold the asbestos in place and .serving as an attractive finish to the body of the cooler, the upper end of the covering() having a circumferential cornice 31 matching the outer periphery of the lid or cover 23, `while the lower end of said covering 3() is formed into a similar shape to form an extended base 82 to e ld to the appearance of the cooler.

lli/lith the connections 1() and 16 properly made to the water supply source and the sewer respectively, and the cooler properly mounted on a suitable support (not shown) with the faucets 18 all closed, the cover 23 is raised and the ice placed within the receptacle 5 and upon the disc 12, the said cover being then tighly closed to exclude the entrance of air into the ice chamber, which is thus preserved in a cold state by the surlvl rounding vacuum chambers in the body member and the cover, thus resulting in great economy in the use of ice. The drippage from the ice is taken care of by the outlet or drain pipe 16, and the water held in the trap 17 prevents the cold air from the ice chamber from escaping and also prevents any warm air or gases from entering the ice chamber to either melt the ice or contaminate the same. As fast as the water is drawn through any one or all of the faucets, the supply is immediately replenished by reason of the pressure within the pipe 10, the filtering medium indicated at 38, in Figure 2 of the drawing, serving to remove all impurities from the water before the same is drawn for consumption.

In cleansing the cooler, it. is only necessary to disconnect the pipes l() and 1G therefrom and by inverting the cooler, removing one of the faucets 18, and introducing a hose nozzle or other spray into the sleeve 20 thus vacated, the filtering medium 33 together with any foreign matter or accumulations may be readily iushed and dislodged from within the water chamber 6, and the same thoroughly cleansed and removed therefrom through the open sleeve 9, whereu ony fresh filtering material may be introducec through the said sleeve 9, the said faucet re-applied in position within the sleeve 20, the connections 1() and 16 made and the water allowed to new into the cooler again, such replenishment of the filtering materials being necessary only at long intervals, dependingl on the condition of the water within the mains.

ln some instances, especially when the cooler is designed for domestic or family use, it is desirable to utilize the refrigerating capabilities of the device for the purpose of keeping cool the interior of an ice box or refrigerator, without the necessity for daily supplying the saine with ice, as is customary.

lVitli the use of the present water cooler, a constant supply of cold water for drinking may be always on hand and foods or liquids advantageously kept or preserved in good condition in a manner to be explained.

The bottom wall or plate l of the cooler is provided, within the ice chamber with spaced, upstanding, circumferential flanges 3a', each surrounding an outlet passage formed in the bottom a. rlhese outlets are preferably two in number and are at diametrically opposite sides of the central outlet 15 and adjacent to the circumferential wall tl, the upper ends of said flanges Se being sutliciently raised above the inclined bottoni wall -it to prevent any of the drippage from entering and passing out of the passages 35, and when the device is used only as a water cooler, as hereinbefore described, corlrs or other closures 36 are pushed into the flanges 5:3/1 to prevent the inlet of air. llilhen, however, the device is adapted for use in cooling an ice box or refrigerator, said corls are withdrawn, and a pair of thin sheet metal tubes are introduced into the openings 35, said tubes having outstanding flanges at their upper ends to rest upon the circumferential flanges 341 to support the tubes, and the latter are placed through an opening formed in the top wall of the ice box or refrigerator and are allowed to extend into the usual ice chamber of said ice box or refrigerator with the device resting upon the top of the same and in covering relation to the aforesaid opening, none of which has, however, been deemed necessary to be illustrated in the drawing. It will be readily understood that the cold air generated by the ice within the receptacle 5 will pass down through the aforesaid tubes depending from the openings and will cause a cooling of the refrigerator without detracting from the cooling effect of the same upon the water within the receptacle 6, and that the same supply of ice serves to keep the drinking water cool as well as the contents of the ice box or refrigerator.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple, cheaply manufactured and strong and durable cooler has been provided which may be readily formed in a single casting and lrept in a sanitary condition, and that the same has no rivets, screws or joints to rust out, the device being neatl and attractive in appearance and advantageous for use in homes or public places, there being no necessity for constantly filling the water chamber, or otherwise requiring the oiiices of an attendant, and that the particular formation and arrangement of the parts renders' capable the keeping of the water at a low temperature with a minimum amount of ice.

1What is claimed is 1. A water cooler formed of a single casting and comprising an inner, Cylindrical chamber closed at the bottom and open at the top and constituting an ice chamber, the upper :tace of the bottom being dished and provided with a central drain opening ior carrying oli' the drippage, opposite, up- Standing circular flanges formed on said bottom having apertures adapted to be plugged or unplugged, and when unplugged to be put in communication with the interior of an ice box, an annulai- Water chamber surroundingthe ice chamber and closed at the top and bottom, means for constantly supplying water thereto, means for drawing ol' the water when desired, an annular vac* uum chamber emu-minding the water chamber and closed at cach end, and a hollow, vacuum lid hinged to the upper, annular walls of the vacuum and Water chambers and having a depending portion for fitting into and closing' the ice chamber. t

5;'. A Water cooler 'formed of a single casting and con'iprising an inner, cylindrical chamber closed at the bottom and open at the top and constituting4 an ice chamber. spaced radial lugs formed Within `and adjacent to the bottom of said chamber, -a re movable disc of less diameter' than the interior of said chamber and adapted to rest on the lugs to support ice, the upper lace ot' the bottom being dished and provided I" with a central drain opening 4for carrying oit' the drippage Yfrom around the periphery of said ice-supporting, disc opposite, upetanding circular flanges formed on said bottom having apertures adapted to be plugged or unplugged, and when unplugged to be put in communication with the interior of an ice box, an annular water chamber surrounding the ice chamber and closed at the top and bottom, means Jf'or constantly supplying water thereto, means 'for drawing, olf the water `when fleeired, an annular, vacuum chamber eurrminding the water chamber and cloned at each end` and a hollow, vacuum lid hinged to the upper annu lar Walls of the vacuum and water chambers and having a depending portion for fitting into and closing the ice chamber.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing :1S our ownA` we have hereto alixed our signatures. 

